UK Visa reforms could deter students, says St Andrews University

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St Andrew University Student Association has expressed concerns about the proposals announced last month by the Home Office for tougher immigration rules for students.

New tighter UK immigration rules for students are under public consideration.

The new UK immigration rules proposed by the government will make it more difficult for people seeking to come to Britain to study, limit their right to work while studying and their ability to bring dependents, and end students from overseas staying on to look for jobs.

St Andrews University Student Association director of representation Siena Parker said there were serious concerns about the planned changes, which are currently in the public consultation stage.

With around 30 per cent of its student body from overseas, the university has the largest proportion of international students in Scotland.

"We recruit from all over the world and this will inherently put students off coming here if they don't have the opportunity to work for a year or two after graduation. We are handing over a massive gift to our competitors in other countries by making these changes. They will inevitably mean more international students will go elsewhere in Europe and the US," Ms Parker said.

The association is surveying students before sending a response on the UK Visa rules to send the Home Office.

The UK Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people with their UK Visa applications to the British High Commission.